"Qualitative studies, particularly ethnographic research, can explain in great detail the nuances of African-American family life and the parental activities and behaviors that may account for youth outcomes" (Burton, Allison, & Obeidallah, 1996; Jarrett, 1995). The results of the study indicated that the presence of uncles in the lives of African-American male youth identified as at risk, fostered successful transitions into young adulthood, positive adolescent development, and the informal social controls that served to keep youth violence and delinquency in check. The data the study generated, according to Richardson, may serve to provide an alternative approach and perspective in understanding the numerous forms of African-American fatherhood. Because much of the sociological research on African-American families continues to be approached through a Westernized perspective, the multifaceted familial unit that is in many ways the African-American experience is continuously deemed deficient. Until such time as a genuine and unbiased view of the African-American family takes place, there will be no appreciation for fictive and non-fictive kinship networks and relationships and little understand as to how to effectively acknowledge, understand and assist the young black male youth of today.

Evaluation

The research completed by Richardson shed a great deal of light on the current state of the scholarly literature and empirical research that has been completed with regard to the African-American experience and particularly, understanding the importance of fatherhood as defined in the African-American inner city community, and even the African-American community at large. The case studies completed as a part of the longitudinal ethnographic study proved to be valid and reliable, and because of the nature in which the study was completed, offered data and analysis that could be generalized outside of those who participated in the study.

As Richardson indicated, however, the role of fatherhood has been defined, historically, in the scholarly literature and research, through a Westernized view, which continues to diminish the effectiveness and validity of kinship and fictive kin support networks that are an integral part...

As such, continued study in this area needs to be completed that takes into account contextually and conceptually the African-American experience so as to inform with regard to effective ways to understand and assist the African-American at risk male youth.
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